Police ramp up search for missing 13-year-old and appeal to public for help

Police are continuing to hunt for a 13-year-old girl missing in the Bradford area since last Monday - and have released a 22-year-old man arrested in connection with her abduction on bail.

Police are carrying out house-to-house searches in their attempt to find missing teenage Erika Kacicova, who has been missing now for nearly a week. The man who they thought she was probably with has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of child abduction.

Erika is known to have gone missing before but never for such a long time. Police think she's probably with friends in the Bradford area and are appealing to her to come forward.

She was last seen at around 4pm on Monday when she left her family's home on Poole Road in Darnall, Sheffield. On Friday, a 22-year-old man from Bradford handed himself in on Friday and was arrested on suspicion of child abduction. He was questioned by detectives in Sheffield and has now been released on bail.

Officers are carrying out door to door inquiries in Darnall and a team from South Yorkshire Police are looking for Erika in Bradford.

Detective Inspector Helen Tate said: "Erika has now been missing for almost five full days and we haven't had any positive sightings or confirmed contact from her.

"We know she has gone missing before but not for this long.

"She is a young girl, away from home and our main aim is for her to return safe and well.

"We know Erika's family have friends and acquaintances in the Bradford area, so she may well have travelled to West Yorkshire."

She also made a direct appeal to Erika asking her to get in touch, adding that she is not in any trouble.